A Nail in the Coffin.
English
idiom
A factor that leads to the end or failure of something.
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A factor that leads to the end or failure of something.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
An event or action that finally and decisively ends something that was already struggling or failing.
A nail in the coffin is the final blow that kills a plan, relationship, reputation, or venture that was already in decline.
It is used to mark the definitive ending of something.
"The Last Straw"
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The final, often small, problem that causes someone to finally lose patience after a series of issues
"Seal Someone's Fate"
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Making an outcome certain and irreversible, usually a negative one
"A Nail in the Coffin"
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The final decisive action that ends something already failing or dying
The client just said they're going with a competitor — is that it?
That's the nail in the coffin — we needed that contract to justify the project budget.
What finally made you decide to leave the job?
Missing the promotion was the nail in the coffin — I'd been thinking about it for months.
Do you think the scandal will end his career?
It might be the nail in the coffin — his reputation was already very fragile.
